Device for branding cigars



(No Model.)

-I. PAINE.

DEVICE FOR BRANDING GIGARS.

No. 414,075. Patented Oct. 2.9, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING PAINE, OF HORELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR BRANDING CIGARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,075, dated Octobei` 29, 1889.

Application tiled December 26, 1888i Serial No. 294,654. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, IRVING PAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hornellsville, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Branding Oi gars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

rlhis invention has relation to brandingtools, and is especially designed for branding the name or makers name upon cigars.

The objects of the invention, together with the novel features, will hereinafter appear, and the latter be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal section on the line e' c of Fig. 2 of a branding device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan of the lower or branding half of the apparatus, the branding-tool being removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line x .fr of Fig. 1, and Figs. d and 5 are details in plan of parts hereinafter referred to.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I prefer to construct the same of two halves or sections 1 and 2, hinged or otherwise separably connected, the first-mentioned section being a heavy or weightedcasting provided with a cigar-receiving concavity or mold and the latter section with a branding-tool, and preferably with means for heating the same, Wherel by, when the two sections are brought toget-her or the upper closed upon the lower, the weight of the former will press the cigar within the mold firmly upon the brander either with the makers name or some distinguishing mark. The upper and lower sections 1 and 2 are preferably formed of cast metal, and, for convenience, with opposite members of a hinge-joint 3, and the lower section with rearwardly-disposed flanges 4, adapted to support the upper hinged section 1 when in an open position. In the lower face of the upper section 1 there is formed a concavity or mold 5, which in form approximates the shape of an ordinary cigar. If desired, the mold 5 maybe formed in a removable piece, whereby cigars of varying lengths and shapes may be accom- Inodated. i

In the upper face of the section 2, and oppoa site the mold 5 in the upper section, there is formed a die or brander receiving opening 6, in which in this instance is mounted the branding tool 7. Any suitable form of brander may be employed; or, if desired, removable and independent dies bearing letters may be inserted, or independent type may be inserted in a slot in the upper face of the die, whereby any name may be composed. In this instance, however, I employ the tool '7 herein shown, and the same consists of an upper head portion provided with the letters or characters, a central depending stem 5X, and opposite inclined bottom walls 8 at each side of the stem. Longitudinal openings 9 are formed at each end of the lower section 2, which openings communicate with the opening 6, and through these openings or bores extend threaded adjusting-rods 10, the inner ends of which are beveled and support in an adjusted position the die 7.

The section 2 is preferably formed with a chamber 11, for the reception of a lamp or other form of burner, which chamber is provided with a lining 12, of fire-clay or other non-heat-conducting substance, the stem 5 of the brander extending through the upper wall of thesection and terminating in said chamber. A tip 13 is applied to the lower end of the stein 7X, and a heat-defiecting plate 14 is inserted between the lining 12 and the tip, and bound in position by the latter. By this construction the die alone is heated, and the remaining portion of the device is kept comparatively cool., whereby undesirable artiiicial drying of the cigar is avoided.

Other forms of chambers may be substituted for the one shown, the one herein illustrated and described being best adapted for the recept-ion of a lamp. Where gas is employed, a construction best adapted for that purpose is substituted; or, if desired, a lamp may be formed integral with the heatingchamber, my invention not being limited in details of this character. A longitudinal recess 15, extending from end to end of the ICO lowersection, is formed, into which i-s mounted loosely a flat or slightly-concaved spring 17, the terminals of which are bent, as at 18, and support the spring yieldingly. A longitudinal slot 19 is formed in the spring at a point therein directly over the die or brander 7 said slot being ot' a size adapted to permit the passage of the brander when the spring is depressed.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The device is especially adapted to b'e placed upon the cigar-makers bench, and as a cigar is made it is placed upon thespring 17. The upper section is then closed uponthe lower, the mold 5 receiving or taking over.' the cigar and serving to press the same upon the brander. The operation of. rolling the next cigar is then proceeded with, and wheny completed the first cigar is removed brandedk 2O and the fresh cigar inserted, and so on, the

time consumed in preparing a cigar being sufficient to brand a cigar.

It desired, and for the purpose of saving a rehandling and counting of the cigars, I may mount a recorder 19X in the front face of the upper section, or in any other portion of the apparatus, which recorder in this instance is. operated by a'rod 20 at the closing of the up-I per section upon the lower after the making of and in branding a cigar. I may also, for the purpose of forming cigars of a uniform' length, provide the two sections with co-operating kniteblades 2l, located at-a suitable point, whereby the tuck ot' tliecigar is re moved. In Fig. 1 Ihave shown the blades asl located near the end of the mold 5, which is.

preferable; but I may mount the same at the end of' the sections or castings 1 and 2, as shown by dotted lines, in which instance the branding device would be constructed somewhat shorter or the brander located near one end of the devicevand the moldcontinuedto Where the knife is employed `intermediate the ends 'of the device I perforate the spring 17, as 'at 22, for the passage ofthe knives, and in this instance the spring 17 need not be continued beyond the knives] For the purpose of finishing the usually unfinished end of the cigar, I may transversely slit the spring and bend the slit portions 11p-S wardly and so as to overlap, thus making a, `co-ntractible thimble 23, (see Fig. 5,) adapted to receive the end of the cigar, and by the weight of the upper section, when the branding'process is being carried on, to compress .that end of the cigar to giveit the appearance A-now usually employed in hand-made cigars of the better grade; or the thimble 23 may be:

constructed independent of the spring 17 and then secured in the proper position. When the upper section is swung back, the spring -serves to lift the cigars from the dies or brander, whereby its removal without rupture Yof the Wrapper is facilitated. 165

ance with myinvention without danger of breaking. the wrapper.

By this invention the cigar is cut off the desired length, the large end tucked or shaped, branded, and recorded in substantially one operation The time consumed in branding is compensated by that saved in cutting o, tucking, and counting. The upper portion of section 2 can be cast separate from the rest of the section, so as to be removable, if desired, andan opening in the back of the device can be cast, through which a cigar when branded can be removed to the bench, in which case the iianges 4 should be at or near the hinges. .i

Having described my invention and itsnoperation, what I claim isd 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of two hinged sections, the lower one being provided with an adjustable die and the upper with a cigar-receiving opening or mold and adapted to press a cigar against the die, substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of an upper and lower section, the latter provided with a die and a superimposed slotted spring and the former having a cigar-receiving mold and being adapted to press the cigar against the die, substantially as specified.

3. In a device of the class described, opposite hinged sections, one of which is provided with a die and a fixed knife 'and the other of which is designed to receive and press a cigar against the die,.and is provided with a movable knife adapted to act with the fixed knife when the sections are closed, substantially as specified.

et. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a lower section having an IOO opening and opposite longitudinal bores, of a IIO 5. In a device of the class described, the i" combinatiomwithl two hinged sections, one of which carries a die, of a superimposed spring slotted for the passage of the die and pro- -vided with a thimble adapted to receive the 4tuck end of a cigar and compress or tuck the same, substantially as speciiied. D

6. In a device of the class described, the combination, with two hinged sections, oneof which carries a die, of a superimposed spring slotted for the passage of the die and provided with a slotted overlapping thimble adapted to receive the tuck end of a cigar and be compressed by the weight of the upper section, substantially as specified.

7. The bottom section 1,having the mold ,5,

- in combination with the lower section 2, hav- Ving the die 7,. and the spring 17, bentl 'at its ends, as at 18, and having the slot 19, substantially as specified. l

8. The sections 1 and 2, the latter recessed,

as at 6 and 9, in combination with the die 7, having the inclined Walls 8, the intermediate depending stem 7X, mounted in the recess 6, and the opposite adjusting-rods 10, mounted in the recesses 9, and having beveled ends adapted to support and adjust the die by o0- acting With the inclined Walls thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two w1tnesses.

IRVING PAINE. Witnesses:

JOHN GRIFFlN, C. E. BEARD. 

